The Importance of General Software Updates and Patches

We all get them from time to time- those little windows that pop up, notifying us that there are software updates available for our computer. Chances are, these always seem to present themselves right when we are in the middle of doing something seemingly important, so it’s all too convenient to click on that “Remind Me Later” button. Later eventually rolls around, and our little pop-up friend is back once again, nagging us to install these updates and restart our computer. And just like during their last visit, we’re right in the middle of something, and the cycle continues. However, that notification is not there just to pester us. There is actually significant importance in updating our software.

Why Should I Install Updates?

Software updates perform a myriad of tasks. They are available for both our operating system and individual software programs. Performing these updates will deliver a multitude of revisions to your computer, such as adding new features, removing outdated features, updating drivers, delivering bug fixes, and most importantly, fixing security holes that have been discovered.

The Dangers Of Software Vulnerabilities

A software vulnerability is usually a security hole or weakness found in an operating system or software program. Hackers exploit this weakness by writing code to target a specific vulnerability, which is packaged into malware. These exploits can infect your computer with no action on your part other than viewing a website, opening a compromised message, or playing infected media.

Once it infects your computer, this malware can then steal data, allow the attacker to gain control over your computer, and even use software in a way that it was not originally intended.

So even though these software updates seem like a hassle, think of it as a preventative measure for your Internet safety. Next time that message comes up to update, resist procrastination and go ahead and hit that “Install Now” button.

I will wait until some of the above questions are answered, like Windows 7 PC, bogus emails & fake sites. How well can Norton prevent such breaches or refuse to allow the damage one may cause? That is, after all, why we purchase and depend of Norton. Still, you can help in a lot of situations so the potential problew won't happen. Like credit card companies and banks do at least partially now, always go to their web site in your internet browser and download from there. Don't trust anything that you can't verify if real. Just like giving out your SSN and DOB to some stranger that calls you on your phone.

It is incredibly easy to set things up so that when you click a link in your email that says it directs you to some web page, that you actually go somewhere else. I discovered this accidentally when I sent someone an email with a link in it. The link you would click on had you go to some other page. Norton did not prevent this from happening, although in this case the site you were directed to was a safe one Things might be different if the real site was disreputable.

I'm not going to tell how I discovered this because I imagine lots of people (that otherwise wouldn't know how to accomplish this). would really like to be able to do that.

Didn't Norton at one time have a vulnerability scan? If I remember correctly they had something like that. We all know patches are essential, I don't know why Norton doesn't have some kind of basic vulnerability type scan to make sure you are up to date on the latest updates, like flash, etc. Other venders seem to be doing this, or at least it is said on there packaging. I think it needs to be put in the suite. How can we be protected, if the number one threat is probably a unpatched system?